Saturday, August 30, 2008

Coming Together

This was a busy week! Besides the exciting installation of the insulation (never thought I'd say THAT! Insulation installation is exciting?? I think I need a life!), the sheetrock is all up and taped now. Just a few coats of mud and it'll be ready to paint! As soon as the sheetrock is ready we can put the tile in. They're also going to be working on finishing up the rest of the outside of the house in the next couple of weeks. It'll be so nice to come home to a house that looks "almost" finished, instead of "in progress". It's all beginning to come together very well. By this time next week, I might have new posts on the front of the house, or maybe even the final paint color on the siding!

My two faucets and my small bar/veggie sink came in this week too. I got good deals on all of them from eBay 
 
I think one of the hardest parts of not having a kitchen is not being able to wash things. The sink in the bathroom is way too small and I can't really bend over and wash things in the tub very well. Other than that, and not being able to cook, it's not too bad. The dogs are used to the alternate way to the back door. My mom is used to us having to tromp through her bedroom to get outside every morning. She just rolls over and goes back to sleep. 

Now that the insulation is in, I don't have to worry about trying to air condition all of Hillcrest anymore. There were so many big gaps and holes everywhere, it almost seemed like I might as well be living in a tent. In fact, a tent would probably have fewer holes! But not anymore. Now it's more like living in an ice chest, with solid foam walls! And they're made out of soybeans!

Yesterday I got a delivery date of Sept. 23rd for my cabinets! 

I've been taking some pictures of the walls with the sheetrock going up. I'll try to get them posted this weekend.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Today





















Today was an exciting day. The Biofoam insulation was started in the kitchen! It's so cool watching it expand and fill in all the little cracks and holes in my walls. I know we won't be cold this winter! I think they'll finish up tomorrow, filling in the walls all the way around the whole house....then the sheet rock will start!

Progress marches on!!!

Here are pictures to get caught up through today....from the way my phone box used to look, the old knob and tube wiring, and the old, inefficient, huge heat and air unit, to the gizmo that sealed my ducts, the new Energy Star unit, the installation of the new air return, the Energy Star Pella windows, the beautiful beaded board ceiling, and the amazing Biofoam insulation....whew! That's alot!



Friday, August 22, 2008

Update...Again....

Well, where were we? Now we've got all the plumbing in and inspected, all the electricity in and inspected, the framing has had it's inspection, the heat and air is in and inspected, the ducts have been cleaned and sealed, and the cabinets have been ordered.

Whew!

I've ordered both faucets and the bar/veggie sink. The other sink comes with the countertop, but I have to pay for the holes to put them in....kind of like the donut is free, but you have to pay for the donut holes!

The beadboard ceiling is in and it looks wonderful!

Monday will be an exciting day...that's when the Biofoam (Bio-Foam Insulation of Arkansas - Foam Insulation Applicators ) insulation will go in, not only in the new kitchen, but all the way around the house! I can't wait!

It's really beginning to look good in there! I've got pictures to post this weekend.

Stay tuned.....


Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Rain

Well, it rained the last couple of days, on and off, but it's stayed pretty cool. The shingles are mostly on as of today, and the electricity looks to be mostly in.....still have the plumbing to go in this week, then we can get inspections! It's beginning to look like a real room.

Finally got an appointment set with the cable company to take down the overhead wire. About time.

Tomorrow the new heat and air unit will be installed along with the duct cleaning and sealing. I'm really looking forward to getting that under my belt. Hopefully, it means we won't be freezing again this winter, and my bills won't be more than my income.

I plan to take more pictures tomorrow and get them loaded soon....things don't look much different than the last ones, though. You'll have to look closer to see the finer details that are going in....

Monday, August 4, 2008

Look at it Now!!
















Ok, it's beginning to really look like a big room now! These are the most recent shots. Today the back wall came down and the beam went up!




Sunday, August 3, 2008

Coming Along

Well, Friday was a big day......the door and windows went in and the felt went up on the roof. It's beginning to look like a real room.....and a covered porch too! 

And tomorrow, the back wall is coming down! There will be a big beam in it's place, so the whole room will be huge (by Hillcrest standards, that is!)

I can't wait.

There are pictures in the camera of the updates, so they'll go up soon.

Friday, August 1, 2008